Delicious pizza with ham and cheese
Who doesn't love a steaming pizza with a perfectly crispy crust, topped with delicious ingredients? This ham and cheese pizza recipe is not only easy to make but also packed with flavors that will delight your taste buds. Join me on a culinary journey to discover how to achieve the perfect pizza, ready to be enjoyed at a family dinner or a party with friends!
Total preparation time: 1 hour
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Baking time: 20-25 minutes
Number of servings: 4
Ingredients for the pizza dough:
- 400 g wheat flour (preferably type 00 for a finer texture)
- 1 cube of fresh yeast (about 25 g)
- 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
- 250 ml lukewarm water (important not to be too hot to avoid killing the yeast)
- A pinch of salt
- A pinch of sugar (to activate the yeast)
Ingredients for the topping:
- Tomato sauce (preferably homemade for an authentic taste)
- Dried or fresh thyme (to taste)
- 200 g ham (choose a quality ham, smoked or fresh, to your liking)
- 100 g cheese (you can use a mix of cheeses for a more complex flavor)
- Bell peppers (optional, for added color and texture)
- Olives (optional, for a Mediterranean taste)
Preparation:
Step 1: Preparing the dough
In a large bowl, crumble the cube of fresh yeast and add the sugar. Pour 200 ml of lukewarm water over it and mix until the yeast is completely dissolved. Let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy. This indicates that the yeast is active and ready to make the dough rise.
Step 2: Mixing the ingredients
In another bowl, sift the flour and add the salt. Make a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture. Add the olive oil, then start mixing with a wooden spoon or your hands until the ingredients begin to come together.
Step 3: Kneading the dough
Transfer the dough to a well-floured work surface and knead for about 10 minutes. The dough should become elastic and smooth. If it is too sticky, you can add a little more flour. Form a ball of dough and place it in a greased bowl. Cover the bowl with a damp towel and let the dough rise for 30-40 minutes until it doubles in size.
Step 4: Preheating the oven
While the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 220°C. If you have a pizza stone or a baking stone, place it in the oven to heat up. This will help achieve a crispy crust.
Step 5: Rolling out the dough
Once the dough has risen, remove it from the bowl and divide it into two or three portions, depending on the desired thickness of the crust. On a floured surface, roll out each portion of dough into a round or rectangular shape, according to your preference.
Step 6: Assembling the pizza
Transfer the rolled-out dough onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper or onto the pizza stone. Spread the base with tomato sauce, leaving a little space around the edges. Sprinkle dried or fresh thyme, then add the sliced ham, followed by the grated cheese. If desired, you can also add bell peppers or olives for extra flavor.
Step 7: Baking the pizza
Place the pizza in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the crust is golden and crispy, and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Check the pizza occasionally to prevent burning.
Step 8: Serving
Once the pizza is ready, remove it from the oven and let it cool slightly. Cut it into slices and serve warm, alongside a fresh green salad or a yogurt dip. Its rich flavor and combined aromas will turn every meal into a celebration.
Helpful tips:
- If you want to customize your pizza, experiment with toppings like mushrooms, peppers, or even pineapple for an exotic touch.
- For an extra flavor boost, you can add a little crushed garlic to the tomato sauce.
- If you don't have fresh yeast, you can use dry yeast (7 g). Make sure to dissolve it in lukewarm water before adding it to the dough.
Frequently asked questions:
1. Can I use whole wheat flour?
Yes, but you may need to add a little more water, as whole wheat flour absorbs more liquid.
2. How do I keep the pizza fresh for the next day?
Store the pizza in an airtight container in the fridge. You can reheat it in the oven or in a skillet to restore its crispy texture.
3. What drinks pair well with pizza?
A cold beer, a red wine, or a mint lemonade cocktail are excellent choices.
Calories and nutritional benefits:
A serving of ham and cheese pizza has about 300-400 calories, depending on the ingredients used. It provides carbohydrates from the flour, protein from the ham and cheese, as well as vitamins from the tomato sauce. It is a balanced meal, but as always, moderation is key.
This ham and cheese pizza recipe is easy to adapt and offers an excellent base for expressing your creativity in the kitchen. Whether you make it for a family night or a party with friends, the result will always be delicious! So embrace the art of cooking and enjoy every bite!
Who doesn't love a steaming pizza with a perfectly crispy crust, topped with delicious ingredients? This ham and cheese pizza recipe is not only easy to make but also packed with flavors that will delight your taste buds. Join me on a culinary journey to discover how to achieve the perfect pizza, ready to be enjoyed at a family dinner or a party with friends!
Total preparation time: 1 hour
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Baking time: 20-25 minutes
Number of servings: 4
Ingredients for the pizza dough:
- 400 g wheat flour (preferably type 00 for a finer texture)
- 1 cube of fresh yeast (about 25 g)
- 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
- 250 ml lukewarm water (important not to be too hot to avoid killing the yeast)
- A pinch of salt
- A pinch of sugar (to activate the yeast)
Ingredients for the topping:
- Tomato sauce (preferably homemade for an authentic taste)
- Dried or fresh thyme (to taste)
- 200 g ham (choose a quality ham, smoked or fresh, to your liking)
- 100 g cheese (you can use a mix of cheeses for a more complex flavor)
- Bell peppers (optional, for added color and texture)
- Olives (optional, for a Mediterranean taste)
Preparation:
Step 1: Preparing the dough
In a large bowl, crumble the cube of fresh yeast and add the sugar. Pour 200 ml of lukewarm water over it and mix until the yeast is completely dissolved. Let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy. This indicates that the yeast is active and ready to make the dough rise.
Step 2: Mixing the ingredients
In another bowl, sift the flour and add the salt. Make a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture. Add the olive oil, then start mixing with a wooden spoon or your hands until the ingredients begin to come together.
Step 3: Kneading the dough
Transfer the dough to a well-floured work surface and knead for about 10 minutes. The dough should become elastic and smooth. If it is too sticky, you can add a little more flour. Form a ball of dough and place it in a greased bowl. Cover the bowl with a damp towel and let the dough rise for 30-40 minutes until it doubles in size.
Step 4: Preheating the oven
While the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 220°C. If you have a pizza stone or a baking stone, place it in the oven to heat up. This will help achieve a crispy crust.
Step 5: Rolling out the dough
Once the dough has risen, remove it from the bowl and divide it into two or three portions, depending on the desired thickness of the crust. On a floured surface, roll out each portion of dough into a round or rectangular shape, according to your preference.
Step 6: Assembling the pizza
Transfer the rolled-out dough onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper or onto the pizza stone. Spread the base with tomato sauce, leaving a little space around the edges. Sprinkle dried or fresh thyme, then add the sliced ham, followed by the grated cheese. If desired, you can also add bell peppers or olives for extra flavor.
Step 7: Baking the pizza
Place the pizza in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the crust is golden and crispy, and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Check the pizza occasionally to prevent burning.
Step 8: Serving
Once the pizza is ready, remove it from the oven and let it cool slightly. Cut it into slices and serve warm, alongside a fresh green salad or a yogurt dip. Its rich flavor and combined aromas will turn every meal into a celebration.
Helpful tips:
- If you want to customize your pizza, experiment with toppings like mushrooms, peppers, or even pineapple for an exotic touch.
- For an extra flavor boost, you can add a little crushed garlic to the tomato sauce.
- If you don't have fresh yeast, you can use dry yeast (7 g). Make sure to dissolve it in lukewarm water before adding it to the dough.
Frequently asked questions:
1. Can I use whole wheat flour?
Yes, but you may need to add a little more water, as whole wheat flour absorbs more liquid.
2. How do I keep the pizza fresh for the next day?
Store the pizza in an airtight container in the fridge. You can reheat it in the oven or in a skillet to restore its crispy texture.
3. What drinks pair well with pizza?
A cold beer, a red wine, or a mint lemonade cocktail are excellent choices.
Calories and nutritional benefits:
A serving of ham and cheese pizza has about 300-400 calories, depending on the ingredients used. It provides carbohydrates from the flour, protein from the ham and cheese, as well as vitamins from the tomato sauce. It is a balanced meal, but as always, moderation is key.
This ham and cheese pizza recipe is easy to adapt and offers an excellent base for expressing your creativity in the kitchen. Whether you make it for a family night or a party with friends, the result will always be delicious! So embrace the art of cooking and enjoy every bite!